Vehicle signal



Nov. 30, 1926. 1,608,751

s. P. JOHNS VEHI CLE SIGNAL Filed April 25, 1921 amoamtoz Samr/el 2 705 72:

1 Romney! Patented Nov, 80, 1926.

UNITED s A Es sanum. 1. Jonas, or nisnnann Leann, MICHIGAN.

- vnnrcrn SIGNAL.

- Application m April 25,

. The invention relates to signals designed for'use on vehicles'and particularly motor vehicles for indicating a proposed change in direction.

It is one of the objects of the invention to provide meansby whichthe indicator may 7 be manually operatedin advance ofthe action, such as turning either right or left,

I and .Will be automatically returned to normal by the completion of the turn or other action. It is a further object to obtain a construction applicable to any type of vehicle. To this end the invention consists in the construction as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the signal and the manual and automatic controlling means therefor;

Figure 2 is an elevation of the steering post and a portion of the steering wheel of a vehicle, showing the signal controlling mechanism in relation thereto;

Figure 3 is a cross-section on line 3-3 of Figure 2; y

Figure 4 is a plan view of the controlling switch.

The signal means which I employ with my "improved apparatus is preferably electric and preferably consists of a series of electric lamps arranged in a housing with its front representing a double headed arrow. The end lamps of the series are arranged in the opposite heads of the arrow and the intermediate lamps are arranged between the heads in the stem or shaft portion of the arrow. Thus as shown, A and A are the end lights and A, A, A the intermediate lights, all being arranged in ahousing B having a central compartment B and end compartments B and B These end comvpartments are fashioned in the form of arrow heads and are separated from the intermediate compartment by. partitions B and B, preventing the light from passing from one compartment to another. The lamps A, A", A are'arranged in one electric circuit C, and the lamps A and A in separate electr'ic circuits 0' and C. allot which are con trolled ilrom a single electric switch I). This switch is preferably mounted upon the steering nest E of the motor vehic being prcvided with an insulator support F' for a series of electric contacts G. Gr and H, H, H and H. I is a movable contact arm, preferably pivotally mounted upon the post 1821. Serial No. 464,189.

,When adjusted in one direction, the contact,

J will-bridge between the contacts'G', H

and H whilea corresponding adjustment in the oppositedirection will bridge between thecontacts H, H and G. The contacts G and G are connected with aline from the battery K, the opposite ole'of which is grounded and the lamps A, A etc. also have one terminal grounded. Thus, when the contact J is moved to the ri ht to bridge between the contacts G, H IF, the lamps A, A, A, A will all be energized, illumihating the arrow with its head pointing to the right. On the other hand, when the contact J is moved to the left brid g between the contacts H, H and G. the ifiips A, A A and A will be energized, illuminating the arrow pointing to the left.

With the signal as thus far described, in operation, the driver may set the signal in advance indicating a turn to either right or left. To avoid continuing the signal after performed only upon the return movementof the wheel and not upon the movement which efiects the turning of the vehicle, as in the latter case the signal would lie-extinguished prematurely. This necessitates; a

mechanism permitting; first. the manual operation of the signal switch without interference by the steering wheel; second, -the operation of the steering wheel to effect the turning without interference with the switch; and third, the actuation of the switch by the steering mechanism on the return movement thereof, which will extinguish, the signal.

Asshowmthe switch D is provided with a. proiecting finger LL preferably arranged on the opposite s de of the steering column from'the handle I. M is the steering Wheel revoluble upon the column E. N is alatclr for couplingthe finger L with the steering wheel and as shown comprising a pair of dogs N and N normally arranged on opposite sides cf said finger when the parts are in neutralposition. The dogs N" and N are prevented from enga ing" with the finger L when the steering wheel is moved away from neutral position by means of a ill) the turn is accomplished, I have provided t has been operated to display the signal, the

movement of the steering wheel from neutral to efiect the turning will adjust the dogs N, N into a position for engagement with the finger L and the return movement of the steering wheel towards neutral will carry back with it said finger L and shift they switch D to neutral. After such return the steering wheel may be moved in either direction without imparting any movement to the switch which must be manually set to displaythe'signal.

My construction has the advantage that it precludes the displaying of a false signal, as might easily happen where the driver having indicated the return, forgets to helltralize the switch. On the other hand, the

setting of the switch must be manually performed and this permits the operator to. effect the indication sufficiently in advance of the movement to warn others.

In manually setting thev switch it is necessary to disengage the finger L from the dogs N and N and it is also desirable to set the switch by an actuating means which is moved in the same direction that the vehicle is to be turned. To accomplish this purpose I have provided an actuating lever Q upon the drivers' side of the steering wheel,-.which is fulcrumed at Q upon a bracket R secured to the support F. The inner'end of the lever Q is attached to the movable'contact'arm I through the medium of a pin S passing through a slot S, the

arrangement being such that when the actuating end of the lever Q; is moved to the right, it will move the contact arm I correspondingly to the left. It is, however, necessary to first disengage the finger L from the dogs N and N which is accomplished by pivotally mounting the handle I at P to a collar P upon the steering column E. This permits of depressing the outer end of the lever Q, which will raise the innor end thereof and the contact arm I, while the finger L willbe correspondingly depressed to free the same from the path of the do s. The lever Q may then be actuated h or either to the right or to the left and will correspondingly actuate the finger I placing the same in a position to be engaged by the steering wheel at the completion of the turning movement and thereby permitting the return of the contact arm to neutral.

It is desirable to provide means for indieating a stop as well as a turning movement of the vehicle. For this purpose I provide a second controllin switch through the operation of which the lights A, A, A are displayed, while the lights A and A remain dark. This controlling switch can be actuated by any suitable part of the control mechanism, preferably a brake pedal as indicated at T which, when depressed, operates the circuit making switch U. -This switch is in an electric circuit R, which forms a shunt of the circuit C around the switch D. Thus in operation, whenever the brake pedal P is depressed, the switch U will be operated, closing the circuit R and illuminating the lights A, A and A, which indicate the intended stop.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. An electric switch for vehicle si nals adapted to be mounted on a steering co umn of the vehicle adjacent the steering wheel comprising a switch arm movable in opposite directions, a finger projecting from said switch arm, a Ipair of dogs movable with said steering wieel and arranged on opposite sides of said finger when the steering wheel is in neutral position, a stationary cam arranged adjacent said dogs and adapted to prevent engagement of the latter with said fin er upon the initial turningmove' ment 0 the steering wheel from neutral position.

2. An electric switch for vehicle signals adapted to be mounted on a steering column of theyehicle adjacent the steering wheel comprising a column adapted to be rotatably mountedon said steering column, a switch arm" pivotally mounted on said column and; provided with an outwardly ex; tending-finger, a member adapted to be secured tosaid steering wheel, a pair of pivotally mounted dogs secured to said member and arranged on opposite sides of said finger when the steering wheel is in neutral position, said dogs being adapted to engage said finger to return the latter to neutral position, a stationary cam arranged adjacent said dogs and adapted to prevent engagement of the latter with said finger upon the initial turning movement of the steering wheel from neutral position, a lever pivotally secured to said steer ng column and connected to said switch arm for rotating said collar and tilting said switch arm ture. y y

SAMK P. JOHNS. 

